A/N: Hey there, everyone. I am sorry for taking so long to update. I was went to my cousin's wedding, talking about boring. I caught the boutique though. Everyone said I'm next to getting married, but I know for sure that's not ever going to happen. No offense to the guys, but some guys are complete blockheads and act like they don't have a friggen brain.

Anyway, in this chapter, Zell gets to find out who that one kid is, the one that he keeps seeing around. (of course, we already know who it is and if you don't, sorry. You'll find out later.) READ ON! hehehe

Chapter 16.

They walked on along the Mount Gagazet trail. They stopped when they saw a large stone wall. Blue mist was floating all around it and dripping down it. Zell stared with awe when he noticed a thin funnel of blue energy upwards. "Wow!" Yuna said. They all stared at the sight for a while. Wakka looked amazed. "Wh-what are those? He asked. Yuna stared at them. "Those are fayth." She paused.

Just then she gasped. "A summoning! Someone is using these fayth! Someone is drawing energy from all of them!" She said. Zell looked at her with surprise. "This many?" He heard Rikku squeak. He stared with surprise. Something weird was going on. "Who wields power on this scale, and what could they be calling?" Lulu asked. Rikku turned around and hurried towards Auron.

"Hey, you know something, don't you? Spill the beans." She said. Auron stared at her then turned to walk away. "Look not to others for knowledge. This is your journey too." He said pausing.

Rikku scowled. "Yunie might die, you know?" She said. Tidus shook his head. "No…Auron's right." He said. Rikku blinked and looked at him. "Huh?" She asked. Tidus walked up to the wall staring at it. He reached forward and touches it.

Suddenly he gasped out, "Wha!" and covered his face with his arm. Zell didn't know exactly what happened to him either but once Tidus touched the wall, he felt a sharp migrane growing. He gasped and grabbed his head with pain. Darkness surrounded his vision. He clenched his eyes shut tight and gritted his teeth.

He suddenly found himself in a black area. Pyreflies all around him. He couldn't figure out what was going on. "Wh-where is everyone! Hello! Tidus! Rikku!" He spun around looking all around. It was exactly like the Time Compression. When he had gotten lost, like everyone else had. He remembered her had traveled in a dark beach near the ocean in the Time Compression but this…..he didn't know what this was. Zell started to run through the black emptiness. He ran as hard and fast as he could.

"Hello! Where did you all go! Yuna! Wakka! Auron!" He yelled. He stopped running and fell to his hands and knees. "What is going on here? This can't be happening again." He whispered. He curled up a little putting his forehead and on the black ground.

"Welcome." Someone said. Zell jumped and looked up. There stood that kid. The one whom he saw at the party. "You….your that kid." He said. The kid just stood there. "You remember me. We've meet a few times." He said calmly. Zell nodded getting to one foot. "Yeah, I remember! So you gonna tell me why you brought me to Spira! Why I keep seeing you and who you are!" he growled.

The kid just stood there motionless. "You better answer me, kid!" Zell growled angrily. "Don't be sad." The answer came unexpectedly. Zell blinked and stared. "Wha?" He asked. The kid nodded. "When this is over, don't be sad." He said. Zell stared. "What are you talking about?" He asked. The kid lifted his head a little and Zell saw white eyes. White eyes with now pupils. It was just like Bahamut's eyes. He remembered seeing those eyes before.

"W-wait……your…..your Bahamut?" Zell asked. The boy nodded. "You can say that." He said. Zell stared. "The dragon aeon?" He asked. The boy nodded again. "Yes." The SeeD tilted his head. "Bahamut the GF? The Guardian Force?" He asked un-surly. The boy, Bahamut, nodded. "Yes." Zell fell back onto his butt. "B-but…..so there is a connection to Spira and Gaia?" He asked. Bahamut nodded. "Yes. There is. Gaia is the twin moon of Spira. Both of them are moons. Moons of a bigger and brighter world." He said. Zell stared. "Why am I here? How did I get here?" He asked. Bahamut didn't answer.

"Please, I must know, Bahamut. Is there anyway I can go home?" the SeeD asked. Bahamut still didn't answer. "Why aren't you answering?" Zell asked. The Fayth, GF, whatever you might want to call it, turned away. "We used our power to transport Sin to your world, to get you." He said. Zell stared with shock. "You…..you can do that?" He asked. Bahamut kept his back on Zell but nodded.

"Why! And who's we!" Zell asked. Bahamut turned back and suddenly several balls of light appeared. There stood Shiva, Ifrit, Diablos, Ixion, all the GFs, he knew. "We are we." Shiva spoke in a cool but soft tone. Zell stared. "B-but…..my home….is everyone……" He couldn't find himself to say it. "No. They're fine. They're worried but fine. We wouldn't kill off the SeeDs. They are still needed." Diablos said. Zell glared.

"You knew….why didn't you tell me, Diablos!" he asked. Diablos sneered. "Because I thought it was funny watching you make a fool of yourself." He said. Zell growled standing up and ready to beat the Summon to a bloody pulp. But Bahamut held up a hand. "Enough. Diablos was asked not to tell you. Not until you reached Zanarkand." He said. Zell stared. "My friends….I want to see them. Are they okay?" He asked.

'"Zell!" He heard someone yelling. Zell looked around the black scenery. "Rikku?" He whispered. "Zell, wake up! Please!" He heard the Al Bhed girl that he may have loved. "You must understand, Zell. They need you to do something. There is a way of stopping this." Bahamut said. Zell looked at him. "Stopping what?" He asked. Shiva nodded. "Sin. You can save Yuna from dying. Just think about it."

Then everything went white. Zell's eyes opened. He was on his back still clutching his head. Everyone was standing around him. "Zell! Are you okay!" Wakka gasped. Zell sat up and shook the dizzines away. He looked over and saw that Tidus was getting to his feet. Rikku was shivering. "What happened to you two? For a second, you were just standing there and then you both went rigid and passed out." She said. Zell shook his head. "I don't know. It….It must have been a dream." He said. Tidus nodded rubbing his head as he stretched. "Nothing like a good nap! Well, I'm ready. Let's go." He said.

Zell stood and they ventured on. They found series of puzzles that they had to go through. Zell was totally oblivious on puzzles. He avoided them as much as possible. So Wakka, Tidus and Rikku went first. Zell watched them with worry and kept his fingers crossed. They waited for a while until a path opened allowing the group to pass through the mountain cave. So they went on. Auron stopped along with Yuna. The others followed suit.

"They'll be upon us soon. She has sent fiends to test our Summoner's strength." He said. Everyone looked at him. "Who is she?" Yuna asked. Auron turned to look at her. "Yunalesca." He said. Yuna looked surprised. "Lady Yunalesca?" She asked. Auron nodded. "In Zanarkand, she awaits the arrival of the strongest." He said.

Yuna stepped closer. "She…..is still alive?" She asked. Auron shook his head. "As much as Mika and Seymour." He said. Yuna nodded. "I see." She said. Auron looked at her. "Lost your nerve?" He asked. Yuna shook her head. "No. Nothing frightens me now." She said. Auron smiled a little. "Braska would be proud." He said. Yuna smiled back. "Then….I must not let him down." She said. They turned around to look at the group.

They continued on. Auron was ahead looking at the sunset. He looked like he was at peace. Zell smiled watching the swordsman. He think he liked seeing Auron like this. Auron then turned around. "It comes." He said. A huge beast appeared and roared at the group. Everyone faced it. Zell stared at the monster as everyone charged and started fighting it.

"I was running out of time.
I had to make my decision soon.
Was I really going to do this?
Was I really going to use my most deadly attack on Sin?"

They had quickly defeated the monster. It wasn't that strong compairing to them. Zell was looking even more devastated that he was thinking the thoughts he was. He didn't want to see Yuna die. The journey was soon coming to an end. He could feel it.

"Hey! Can't we rest a little?" Rikku's voice broke out. Zell blinked and turned around to look at her. She was looking very pale. Auron didn't turn. "No need. We reach the summit soon." He said. Rikku nodded. "I know, that's why I want to stop for a bit." She turned away and crouched low to the ground looking she was going to cry. Zell started forward but Yuna's voice stopped him. "Rikku….." The summoner said.

Rikku shivered. "Fine. I'll think on the way." She said standing. They began walking but Tidus didn't. Wakka and Zell turned around. "Hey, come on. Let's go." Wakka said. Tidus stared. "We are almost there, aren't we?" He asked. Wakka nodded. "We've come a long way." He said. Zell saw a smirk on Auron's face and he wondered exactly what he was smirking at. So did Tidus. "What's so funny?" He asked.

Auron shook his head. "You remind me of myself. Before, the closer I came to Zanarkand, the more I wondered. When we arrive, Braska will call the Final Aeon…He will fight Sin then die. I thought my mind was made up long before. But when I stood here, my resolve wavered." He said. Wakka looked at him. "Huh, never would've figured. Legendary guardians choke sometimes, to, ya?" he asked.

Auron turned away. "Legendary guardian? I was just a boy. A boy about your age, actually. I wanted to change the world too. But I changed nothing." He said then walked on. Zell stared at the spot where he last stood. He let out a deep sigh and then walked on after the group. Tidus walked beside him looking deadpaned. They stopped and looked forward. It was the city of Zanarkand. The sunset glowed a pale light over it.

"So this was Zanarkand.
Tidus' home town. The end of Yuna's journey.

The last chapter of our story, I believed.

And maybe my story.

Auron always said that everyone's life was a story.

What was my story?

Was it when I fought Ultimecia then came to fight Sin?

I wondered…..what would be the ending like?"

Zell's thoughts were shattered when Rikku started to yell. "Yuna, I say no! If we go down there, then you'll….." She had yelled. Zell turned to see the cousins facing each other. "Rikku. You're a true friend and I thank you but…." She paused looking back at the city. "I must go down to Zanarkand." She said. Rikku had tears in her eyes. "I'm not saying we shouldn't go. But shouldn't we think about it some more? There's gotta be some kind of way we can save you, Yuna!" She cried.

Yuna looked at her. "All my life, I knew this moment would come." She said. Rikku shook her head. "Yunie…." She cried. Yuna shook her head as she turned away. She dropped something that no one really noticed but Tidus and Zell. "Thank you, Rikku. Thank you for everything." She turned back and threw her arms around Rikku hugging her tightly. "Don't say that, Yunie! It's not over yet." She said.

Yuna shook her head. "Tell Cid thank you." She said. Rikku shook her head violently. "No….you can tell him yourself." She sniffed. Yuna closed her eyes. "Please…." She said softly. Rikku shivered. "Yunie, don't say that because….we're gonna see each other again, okay?" She asked.

Yuna turned and looked at Kimahri who was looking strange. "Kimahri, let's go." She said. They all walked on. Rikku shivered and followed.

Zell looked at Tidus who bent down and picked up the sphere that Yuna dropped. The blitzer looked over at Zell who turned to leave. "Wait….don't go, Zell. You can see this too." He said. Zell shook his head. "It'll probably be better if I don't." He said starting to walk away. He paused to look over his shoulder. Tidus had held the sphere up to his head and closed his eyes.

The SeeD turned to walk on but stopped. He sort of wanted to know what was on the sphere but he knew it wasn't his place. He couldn't just leave Tidus there. So he just stood there waiting. Finally Tidus joined him. He looked at him with a smile. Zell returned the sad smile and nodded. They turned and hurry along the path. The group was waiting for them. They were all looking towards the city. Zell stared at the ruins. It look so much like Esthar. He started to think it was. But then it looked much different. It wasn't Esthar. He knew it wasn't. Zell sighed as his eyes scanned the area. This was it.

The group was sitting around a camp fire now. They're weapons piled up to the side. They were all just staring there. Zell was sitting against the rocky side staring up at the pyrefly filled sky. The sky was yellow. Everyone was quiet. No one spoke. He could hear Rikku sniffing as many tears back as she could. Zell wanted to comfort her. She was losing her cousin soon.

Zell heard shuffling of feet and looked over. Tidus stood and walked past Yuna pausing to place his hand on her shoulder. Yuna looked up at him then nodded before closing her eyes. Tidus walked away from the group and looked towards the ruins of Zanarkand. Zell watched them then he nodded.

"I made my decision.
I would use My Final Heaven.
Even if it killed me."

Everyone had rested for a while before they went on. They walked right into the city through the destroyed streets. Zell stared around. "So….this is where you lived?" He asked looking at Tidus. Tidus looked around then nodded. "Yeah." He said in a strange tone. Zell nodded. There was a large gather of pyreflies all around them. Wakka shivered as he watched. "Looks like the Farplane." He said. Auron nodded. "Close enough." He told him.

They walked on along the road finally reaching a large building where a man was standing at the entrance. He smiled seeing "Journeyer of the long road, name yourself." He said. Yuna sighed and stepped forward. "I am Summoner Yuna. I have come from the island of Besaid." She said. The man walked closer. Zell tensed a little just in case he was going to start something. "Your eyes, my dear. Show me the long road you have travelled."

He leaned in and looked into her eyes before nodded. "Very good. You have journeyed well. Lady Yunalesca will surely welcome your arrival. Go to her now and bring your guardians with you. Go?" he said. The group walked through the doors and they see two ghosts. Zell stepped back with shock but kept quiet. The two women were talking.

"If it might benefit the future of Spira, I will gladly give my life. It is the highest honor for which a guardian might ask. Use my life, Lady Yocun and rid Spira of Sin." One woman said and then they vanished. "Whoa." Zell said. Rikku stared. "What….what was that?" She asked. Auron looked at her. "Our predecessors." He said. Lulu blinked. "She said, 'Lady Yocun', didn't she? Wait! She guarded High Summoner Yocun?" She asked. Auron nodded. "This dome is filled with pyreflies. It's like one gigantic sphere. People's thoughts remain here. Forever." He told them.

They walked on through the dome finally arriving to three people. A blue haired boy and his mother. A man was standing quietly behind the woman. The boy was crying. "No! Mother, no! I don't want you to become a fayth!" He cried. The mother had tears in her eyes. "There is no other way. Use me and defeat Sin. Only then will the people accept you." She said. The boy shook his head with tears running down his face. "I don't care about them! I need you, mother! No one else!" The mother shook her head. "I don't…..have much time left." She said sadly. The vanished.

The group stared wide eyed. Wakka turned his head. "Hey, wasn't that….?" He paused. Rikku shivered. "Seymour?" She asked. Zell stared wide eyed but said nothing. 'What's going on here?' He thought. They kept walking until three ghostly images stopped them again. The images of Auron, Braska and Jecht. Zell blinked in surprise as he saw Jecht. It was the same man he met in the beginning.

And apparently they had startled the others. But Auron, of course. Zell was starting to think nothing scared that dude. Tidus jumped back bumping into Zell from being startled, knocking him over and tripping over him. "Ah!" Both gasped. They landed in a heap. "Tidus!" Zell whined. Tidus sat up. "Sorry." He said. They looked over at that ghostly images.

"Hey, Braska. You don't have to do this." Jecht said. Braska smiled at him. "Thank you for your concern." He said. Jecht folded his arms not looking worried again. "Fine. I said my piece." He said. Auron shook his head. "Well, I haven't. Lord Braska, let us go back. I don't want to see you…die." He said. Braska sighed shaking his head. "You knew this was to happen, my friend." He said. Auron nodded. "Yes, but I….I cannot accept it." He said.

Braska laughed softly. "Auron, I am honored that you care for me so. But I have come to kill grief itself. I will defeat Sin and lift the veil of sorrow covering Spira. Please understand, Auron." He said. Auron lowered his head. Then they vanishedZell looked at the real Auron with concern. Auron glanced at him and shook his head before walking on.

The others followed him through the stadium. They approached a flight of stairs and was going to walk up them when they had to stop. There was the ghostly images of Braska and his guardians again. "Are the trials ahead?" Jecht asked. Braska shrugged. "Probably." He said. Jecht grumbled. "Here too, huh? Gimme a break. I was expecting, you know, parades and….fireworks." He said merrily. Braska smiled shaking his head. "You can ask for them after I defeat Sin." He said. They vanished again.

The company walked on through a doorway. They came to the Cloister of Trials. Tidus let out a huge sigh. "Man, these get so annoying." He said. Auron smirked. "That's what Jecht used to say." He said. Tidus rolled his eyes. Zell stared at something on the wall. He smirked. "Well, well. This will be simpler than I thought." He said. Everyone looked at the blonde SeeD as he walked towards a computer. "What ya doing, ya?" Wakka asked. Zell stopped right in front of it.

"I already told you. I can work any machine. I wasn't too good with computers until Selphie came along. Thank hyne she was a hacker. She taught me some stuff about computers. The thing I used to do with computers was put my fist through the screen." He said as he began typing some stuff. He kept glancing over the door before there was a bleep and the door opened. Yuna smiled. "Thank you, Zell." She said. Zell shrugged. "No prob."

They went through to the next room. There was another computer and Zell played with that one too. There was a click and Zell nodded. "The plateform's unlocked. Yuna can go in now." He said. They walked over to the plateform only to find a monster waiting. "Ugh….this is getting old." Zell muttered and they fought against it. And of course, they beat it to a bloody pulp.

Everyone looked at the plateform. Auron nodded. "Yuna….We're here." He said. Yuna sighed a shaky breath. "The Hall of the Final Summoning." She said. Auron nodded. "Go." He said softly. Yuna nodded and bowed. "Yes." Then she climbed onto the platform and went down. Just then everything went black. "Huh! What do you mean no Final Aeon!" Jecht's voice echoed through the room.

Yuna came back up looking shocked. "Sir Auron! Everyone!" She gasped. Everyone hurried forward and they went down. They hurried into the Chamber of the Fayth. It was empty. Nothing was there. "This is a Fayth. It's just an empty statue." Yuna said. Just then the wall standing behind her disappeared and the man from before walked in. "That statue lost its power as a fayth long ago. It is Lord Zaon, the first fayth of the Final Summoning. What you see before you is all that remains of him. Lord Zaon is….his soul is gone." He said.

Everyone jumped. "Gone!" Wakka gasped. Rikku looked hopeful. "You mean, there is no Final Aeon?" She asked. Zell looked at her. She seemed happier to hear that there was no Final Aeon. He didn't know what to think though. "But fear not. Lady Yunalesca will show you the path. The Final Aeon will be yours. The Summoner and the Final Aeon will join powers. Go to her now. Inside the Lady awaits." The man announced then he vanished.

Yuna walked forward to where the wall used to be and started to step through a barrier when Tidus stopped her by calling out. "Yuna, wait!" He turned to look at Auron. Everyone did. "Auron, you knew this was going to happen, didn't you?" Tidus asked. Auron nodded. "Yes." He said. Zell shook his head. "Why didn't you tell us?" He asked. Auron looked at him. "If I had told you the truth, would that really have stopped you from coming?" He asked. No one spoke right off.

Kimahri looked at Yuna. "Yuna." He said softly. Yuna shook her head. "I'm not going back." She said. Kimahri sighed. "Kimahri knows. Kimahri goes first. Yuna is safe. Kimahri protect." He then turned and walked right through the barrier. Yuna went after him followed by Auron. Everyone walked through but Zell. Zell just paused before going through. He had just arrived when Rikku cried out, "Someone's coming!" A ton of pyreflies flew around them. And a woman appeared. Yuna gasped. "Lady Yunalesca!"